The PUSH-to-START program expands on Freedom House’s existing Preparing Urban Students for Success in Higher Education (PUSH) program, which enables marginalized students in Boston to overcome barriers to post-secondary completion while becoming active citizens through intense coaching and access to civic engagement opportunities. Through the PUSH-to-START program at Freedom House, students engage in post-secondary planning, skill building, mental wellness services, career exploration, job shadowing, and job opportunities. The 18-month PUSH-to-START program aims to support students in a valuable and successful transition year from high school to enrollment in an accredited post-secondary program. Once the PUSH-to-START students are enrolled in a post-secondary program, they will continue to be supported through our PUSH College program.

PUSH College empowers students to build their capacity to persist and succeed in their post-secondary education journey. Through PUSH, Student Success Coaches provides intensive coaching, leadership-building activities, work-study employment, mental wellness, and professional networking opportunities.

For more information, please contact Malcolm Thomas at mthomas@freedomhouse.com